Wiring harness arranging construction

ABSTRACT

There is provided a guide frame 10 having a small width and a triangular or other shape. An insertion opening 10e and a withdrawal opening 10g for a wiring harness D·W/H are formed in spaced-apart positions of the guide frame 10. The wiring harness D·W/H is fixedly inserted through the insertion opening 10e of the guide frame 10 and withdrawn through the withdrawal opening 10g after being arranged in a roundabout manner inside the guide frame 10. The guide frame 10 is fixed to either one of a door D and a body C, and the leading end of the wiring harness D·W/H withdrawn from the guide frame 10 through the withdrawal opening 10g is extended to the other of the door D and the body C, so that the wiring harness D·W/H comes from and returns into the guide frame 10 according to opening and closing movements of the door D.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of Application Ser. No. 08/871,494,filed Jun. 6, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,645.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device or construction for arranginga wiring harness in a door hinge portion of a vehicle and isparticularly designed to facilitate an operation and prevent theentrance of water.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A door hinge connects a body and a door of a vehicle to permit openingand closing of the door. A prior door harness may be arranged from adoor side to a body side and may be connected with an instrument panelharness (hereinafter, "IP harness") at the body side. Alternatively, theprior art IP harness may be arranged from the body side to the door sideand may be connected with the door harness at the door side.

Conventionally, in the door hinge portion, the door harness is arrangedin substantially the same position as a hinge point along the horizontaldirection, but is displaced therefrom along the vertical or heightdirection. Thus the prior art door harness only twists without extendingor contracting as the door is opened and closed. The above twisting istaken up by the twisting of the wiring harness.

A prior art door harness with a wiring harness arranged at the hingepoint is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. In this prior art, a hinge H forconnecting a body C and a door D is mounted substantially in the middleof an end surface la of a door panel 1. A door harness D·W/H is arrangedinside the door panel 1 and is taken outside the door D through athrough hole 1b formed in the end surface 1a. It takes time and labor toarrange the wiring harness inside the door panel 1 and pass it throughthe through hole 1b.

Further, a weatherstrip 2 is mounted on the door D to prevent theentrance of water. Since the weatherstrip 2 is mounted more toward thepassenger compartment than the hinge H, the wiring harness D·W/H islocated more away from the passenger compartment than the weatherstrip2. Accordingly, the weatherstrip 2 cannot fulfill its water preventingfunction at the location where the wiring harness is arranged,necessitating a water preventing construction for the wiring harnessD·W/H. In view of this, a conventional practice has been such thatwaterproof grommets are mounted on the holes formed in the body C andthe door D for the arrangement of the wiring harness D·W/H and a certainmeasure is taken to make the wiring harness D·W/H waterproof. However,such a practice is costly and cumbersome.

The above problem can be solved by arranging the wiring harness D·W/Hmore toward the passenger compartment than the weatherstrip 2. However,in such a case, the position of the wiring harness D·W/H is displacedfrom the hinge point along the horizontal direction. Thus the wiringharness D·W/H needs to be extended and contracted when the door D isopened and closed. In other words, the wiring harness to be arranged inthe door hinge portion is required to have both anextendible/contractible function and a twist take-up function.

A construction in which a wiring harness is arranged more toward thepassenger compartment than a weatherstrip is disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. 8(HEI)-48146. Specifically, as shownin FIGS. 31 and 32 of that reference, a corrugated duct 4 for coveringan air conditioning duct is mounted between a side cover 3 of aninstrument panel and an inner surface 1c of a door opposite to the sidecover 3, and a wiring harness D·W/H that is spirally to have a marginlength is arranged inside this duct 4.

However, since the spiral wiring harness D·W/H is arranged inside thecorrugated duct 4 in the above construction, several problems may occur.For example, when the wiring harness D·W/H extends in the center of thecorrugated duct 4 as shown in FIGS. 33(A) and 33(B), the corrugated duct4 and the spiral wiring harness D·W/H are allowed to extend and contractin a normal manner. However, if a part W of the wiring harness D·W/Henters a recess 4a of the corrugation of the duct 4 as shown in FIG.34(A), the duct 4 cannot contract. If the door is closed in this stateas shown in FIG. 34(B), the duct 4 and the wiring harness D·W/H may bedamaged by being jammed between the door panel 1 and the side cover 3and, in a worst case, the wire may be cut. Additionally, the spiralwiring harness D·W/H is not necessarily constantly restored to itsspecific configuration after the extension or contraction. If the outerdiameter of the wiring harness becomes larger than the inner diameter ofthe corrugated duct 4, the corrugated duct 4 is destroyed and cannotcontract any longer. Furthermore, the corrugated duct 4 is exposed tothe passenger compartment, and may be deformed by an external force. Insuch a case, the spiral wiring harness D·W/H located inside may enterthe recess 4a of the duct 4, and accordingly may be jammed between thedoor panel 1 and the side cover 3 as described above. Finally, when thedoor D is opened and closed, a force to extend and contract thecorrugated duct 4 is needed in addition to a door opening/closing force,disadvantageously making the door heavier for a driver or passenger toopen and close it.

To overcome the above problems, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a wiring harness arranged at a radial distance from arotation point of first and second elements that are rotatable and/ormovable with respect to each other, and in a position which is moretoward a passenger compartment than a hinge point and preferably moreinward than a weatherstrip, to facilitate an operation and to preventthe entrance of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a wiring harness arrangingdevice for arranging a wiring harness that will extend between a firstelement and a second element that are movable and/or rotatable withrespect to each other. For example the wiring harness may extend betweena vehicle body and a door in a position more toward a passengercompartment than a mount position of a hinge that connects the vehiclebody and the door. Preferably the wiring harness and the arrangingdevice are more toward the passenger compartment than a weatherstrip is.The arranging device comprises at least one wiring harness dispensing orfeeding or holding means in which an insertion opening and a dispensingor withdrawal opening for a wiring harness are formed in spaced-apartpositions. The wiring harness is inserted through the insertion openingand dispensed or withdrawn through the dispensing opening. At least onewiring harness dispensing means is fixed to either one of or both thefirst and second element, in particular to a door and a vehicle body.The leading end of the wiring harness is dispensed from the at least onewiring harness dispensing means through the dispensing opening and isextended to the other of the first and second elements, in particularthe door or the vehicle body, so that the wiring harness comes from andreturns into the at least one wiring harness dispensing means accordingto the movement and/or rotation of the first and second elements withrespect to each other, in particular according to the opening andclosing movements of the door.

Thus the wiring harness dispensing or feeding means accommodates aloosened portion of the wiring harness thus compensating for a need ofwiring harness when the first and second elements are displaced withrespect to each other in a manner that enlarges the distance between thepositions were the wiring harness is fixed to the first and secondelements. In other words the wiring harness feeding means provides aloosened length of the wiring portion which allows a movement of thefirst and/or second elements without stretching or breaking the wiringharness and allows for a contraction or extension of the wiring harnessin accordance with a movement and/or rotation of the first and/or secondelement with respect to each other.

Accordingly the wiring harness arranging construction allows for anarrangement of the wiring harness in such a manner as to have both abent or twist take-up function and an extendible/contractible function.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wiring harnessis fixedly inserted through the insertion opening.

Preferably, the wiring harness is inserted into the wiring harnessdispensing means through the insertion opening and dispensed orwithdrawn through the dispensing opening after being arranged in asubstantially roundabout manner.

Further preferably, the wiring harness dispensing means comprises aguide frame having a substantially triangular shape, the insertionopening is provided at a first apex thereof, the dispensing opening isprovided at a second apex thereof, and the wiring harness is soaccommodated in the guide frame as to extend preferably in asubstantially roundabout manner, preferably toward a third apex.

Most preferably, the wiring harness dispensing means, in particular theguide frame is fixedly and vertically accommodated in a recess formed inan end surface of the second element, in particular the door, an innersurface of the door toward a passenger compartment, an end surface ofthe first element, in particular of the vehicle body facing the endsurface of the door, or an end surface of an instrument panel toward thedoor.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one wiringharness dispensing means has an open rear surface or has a boxlike shapewith a small width. Preferably the dispensing means is formed with alocking claw to be detachably locked with an engaging groove formed inthe first element and/or the second element, in particular in the doorand/or the vehicle body. The wiring harness preferably is slidablyaccommodated in a space defined between an open front surface of thewiring harness dispensing means and first and/or second element inparticular the door and/or the vehicle body in embodiments where thecase of the wiring harness dispensing means has an open rear surface.Alternatively the wiring harness may be slidably accommodatedsubstantially inside the wiring harness dispensing means in the case ofthe box-shaped wiring harness dispensing means.

Preferably, one or more tubular portions project at the insertion and/ordispensing openings of the wiring harness dispensing means and/orwherein the insertion opening, in particular the tubular portionthereat, and the wiring harness are preferably fixed by fixing means, inparticular by taping or clamping.

Still further preferably, the wiring harness is passed through arestricting tube having open opposite ends. The tube then is placed atleast partially inside the wiring harness dispensing means in a positionsubstantially continuous with the dispensing opening so as to beslidable, preferably substantially in and out of the dispensing opening,wherein the wiring harness is preferably tightly passed through or fixedto the restricting tube so that the restricting tube moves together withthe wiring harness. A biasing means, such as a spring, preferably isprovided between the restricting tube and the wiring harness dispensingmeans to bias the wiring harness in a direction to pull it into thewiring harness dispensing means.

Most preferably, the wiring harness dispensing means, in particular theguide frame is fixed to the door and the wiring harness is arranged byinserting the leading end of the wiring harness having passed throughthe wiring harness dispensing means into an opening formed in an endsurface of an instrument panel toward the door or a lower surfacethereof at the door side.

According to still a further preferred embodiment, the wiring harnessdispensing means comprises a container casing having a space foraccommodating the wiring harness while being looped, so that the wiringharness passed through the container casing can extend and contractwhile varying the diameter of the loop as the first and/or secondelements are moved and/or rotated with respect to each other, inparticular the door is opened and closed. Preferably at least a portionof the wiring harness to be passed through or inserted into the wiringharness dispensing means is passed through or fitted into a tube havinga smooth outer surface and a function of restoring to an original loopedstate with a large diameter. Thus the wiring harness withdrawn ordispensed when the first and second elements are moved and/or rotatedwith respect to each other, in particular when the door is opened, ispulled back into the wiring harness dispensing means due to therestoring force of the tube, returning to the original looped state withthe large diameter when the first and second elements are in their firstposition, in particular when the door is closed.

Further preferably, a stopper projection is provided preferably insidethe container casing, and the wiring harness is accommodated while beinglooped at least once about the stopper projection so that, while thewiring harness is dispensed or fed or withdrawn from the containercasing, any further dispensing or feeding or withdrawal of the wiringharness is stopped when the wiring harness substantially winds aroundthe stopper projection.

Most preferably, the insertion and dispensing openings are substantiallyopposed to each other.

According to still a further preferred embodiment, the container casingcomprises a main body and a lid which preferably is formed integrally orunitarily with the main body via a thin hinge. The main body maycomprise an arcuate, preferably substantially semicircular bottomportion, a flat upper surface provided at the upper end of the bottomportion, and an arcuate side wall. The lid preferably has asubstantially semicircular shape and may be connected with the leadingend of the upper surface via the hinge. The insertion and dispensingopenings for the wiring harness may be formed at the opposite ends ofthe side wall near the upper surface so as to be substantially opposedto each other. A lock portion may be provided between the lid and themain body.

At least one partition plate may be provided inside the container casingto define at least a space communicating with the insertion opening anda space communicating with the dispensing opening lest portions of thewiring harness dispensed through the dispensing opening after beinginserted through the insertion opening and looped at least once shoulddirectly intersect.

Further preferably, the partition plate is arranged at a mount step ofthe stopper projection and/or wherein an edge of the partition plate isrounded off.

Most preferably, the distance of the stopper projection from an edge ofthe partition plate is variable along a direction of the loop of thewiring harness or a circumferential or azimuthal direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provideda wiring harness arranging device for arranging a wiring harness thatwill extend between a vehicle body and a door in a position more towarda passenger compartment than either a weatherstrip or a mount positionof a hinge for connecting the vehicle body and the door. The wiringharness arranging device comprises a guide frame which has a small widthand in which an insertion opening and a withdrawal opening for a wiringharness are formed in spaced-apart positions. The wiring harness isfixedly inserted through the insertion opening of the guide frame andwithdrawn through the withdrawal opening after being arranged in aroundabout manner. The guide frame is fixed to either one of a door anda vehicle body, and the leading end of the wiring harness that iswithdrawn from the guide frame through the withdrawal opening isextended to the other of the door and the vehicle body, so that thewiring harness comes from and returns into the guide frame according toopening and closing movements of the door.

By arranging the wiring harness inside the guide frame to extend notlinearly, but in a roundabout manner, the wiring harness can bewithdrawn from the guide frame when the door is opened, therebyfollowing the movement of the door. When the door is closed, theextended wiring harness returns back into the guide frame, in particularin the roundabout manner. Further, a twisting during the opening andclosing of the door can be taken up by the twisting of the wiringharness withdrawn from the guide frame.

As is clear from the above description, since the wiring harness is ormay be arranged not in the same position as the hinge point along thehorizontal direction, but in the position more inward toward thepassenger compartment in the inventive wiring harness arrangingconstruction in the door hinge portion of the vehicle, the wiringharness is required to have both an extendible/contractible function anda twisting function when the door is opened and closed. Since the guideframe having both functions is provided and the wiring harness ismounted on the guide frame, the wiring harness is allowed to extend andcontract when the door is opened and closed, and the wiring harnesswithdrawn from the guide frame twists itself. Accordingly, the wiringharness can smoothly follow the opening and closing movement of the doorby extending and contracting while twisting.

Since the guide frame is or may be only a thin and small frame or a thinbox through which the wiring harness is passed, it can be mounted in asmall space in the door or the vehicle body and/or between them.Further, if a trim panel is mounted after the guide frame is mounted,the guide frame is not exposed to the passenger compartment and does notdegrade the appearance. Furthermore, since the guide frame is small andlightweight, the mounting of the guide frame does not require anincreased force to open and close the door, i.e. does not make the doorheavier to open and close.

Further, since the wiring harness is or may be arranged in a positionmore inward than the hinge point and the weatherstrip, it is notnecessary to provide a water preventing means for the wiring harness,obviating the need to use grommets or like conventional water preventingdevices. Furthermore, since the wiring harness is arranged at the sideof the inner surface of the inner plate of the door panel, aconventionally required operation of arranging the wiring harness insidethe door panel and withdrawing it through the through hole formed in thefront end surface of the door panel can be eliminated. As a result, anoperation of arranging the wiring harness into the door panel can beconsiderably made easier as compared with the prior art.

Preferably, there is provided a wiring harness arranging device forarranging a wiring harness that will extend between a vehicle body and adoor in a position more toward a passenger compartment than either theweatherstrip or a mount position of a hinge for connecting the vehiclebody and the door. The wiring harness arranging comprises at least oneguide frame which has a small width and in which an insertion openingand a withdrawal opening for a wiring harness are formed in spaced-apartpositions. The wiring harness is fixedly inserted through the insertionopening of the guide frame and withdrawn through the withdrawal openingafter being arranged in a roundabout manner. One guide frame is fixed toa door and a second is fixed to the vehicle body. The wiring harnesseswithdrawn from both guide frames through their withdrawal openings aremade continuous, so that the wiring harnesses come from and return intothe guide frames according to opening and closing movements of the door.

Accordingly, the guide frames are mounted on the door and the body, sothat the wiring harnesses are withdrawn from both guide frames when thedoor is opened while they return into the guide frames when the door isclosed.

Preferably, the guide frame has a substantially triangular shape; theinsertion opening is provided at a first apex thereof; the withdrawalopening is provided at a second apex thereof; and the wiring harness isso accommodated in the guide frame as to extend in a roundabout mannertoward a third apex. The shape of the guide frame is not limited to theabove. However, by forming the guide frame substantially triangular, thewiring harness can be arranged in a roundabout manner along the innerside surface of the guide frame inside the guide frame.

Preferably, the guide frame is fixedly and vertically accommodated in arecess formed in an end surface of the door, an inner surface of thedoor toward a passenger compartment, an end surface of the vehicle bodyfacing the end surface of the door, or an end surface of an instrumentpanel toward the door. By vertically accommodating the guide frame, thewidth of the accommodation space can be made smaller and, accordingly,the guide frame can be easily mounted on the door having a smallinstallation space. In the case that the guide frame is mounted on aninstrument panel or the vehicle body which has a relatively largeinstallation space, it may be horizontally fixed. In other words, howthe mounted guide frame is oriented does not matter provided the wiringharness is accommodated inside the guide frame with a margin length bywhich the wiring harness is withdrawn from the guide frame when the dooris opened.

Preferably, the guide frame has an open rear surface or has a boxlikeshape with a small width and is formed with a locking claw to bedetachably locked with an engaging groove formed in the door or thevehicle body, and the wiring harness is slidably accommodated in a spacedefined between an open front surface of the guide frame and the door orthe vehicle body in the case of the guide frame having an open rearsurface or slidably accommodated inside the guide frame in the case ofthe box-shaped guide frame. The smaller the space taken up by the guideframe, the more preferable construction. Accordingly, there is adopted aconstruction in which the wiring harness is slidably held between thedoor or the vehicle body and the guide frame. Further, if the lockingclaw engageable with the locking groove formed in the door or vehiclebody is provided, the guide frame can be mounted by one simpleoperation. In the case of the box-shaped guide frame, the width of itshollow portion is set slightly larger than the outer diameter of thewiring harness so that the wiring harness does not overlap inside theguide frame.

Preferably, tubular portions project at the insertion and withdrawalopenings of the guide frame and the tubular portion at the insertionopening and the wiring harness are fixed by taping. Specifically, theinsertion and withdrawal openings for the wiring harness needs to befixed in specified positions. Accordingly, the tubular portions throughwhich the wiring harness is passed are provided at these openings, andthe wiring harness is fixed to the tubular portion by taping at theinsertion opening. With such a projecting tubular portion, the wiringharness can be easily fixed by taping or like fixing means.

Preferably, the wiring harness is passed through a restricting tubehaving open opposite ends. The tube then is placed partially inside theguide frame in a position continuous with the withdrawal opening so asto be slidable. If the wiring harness is passed through the restrictingtube inside the guide frame as above, the wiring harness can securelyreturn into the guide frame through the withdrawal opening when the dooris closed.

Preferably, the wiring harness is tightly passed through the restrictingtube so that the restricting tube moves together with the wiringharness, and a spring is provided between the restricting tube and theguide frame to bias the wiring harness in a direction to pull it intothe guide frame. If the restricting tube is biased in the pull-indirection by the spring as above, the wiring harness can be pulled backinto the guide frame faster than the door is closed.

It is preferable to cover a withdrawn portion of the wiring harnessbetween the door and the vehicle body with a tube or the like having aspecified rigidity. Further, a mount member of rubber or elasticmaterial may be mounted at the leading end of the wiring harness whichis withdrawn from the guide frame and mounted on the vehicle body or thedoor so as to take up the twisting of the wiring harness.

The guide frame may be fixed to the door and the wiring harness isarranged by inserting the leading end of the wiring harness havingpassed through the guide frame into an opening formed in an end surfaceof an instrument panel toward the door or a lower surface thereof at thedoor side.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, there isprovided a wiring harness arranging device for arranging a wiringharness that will extend between a vehicle body and a door in a positionmore toward a passenger compartment than a mount position of a hinge forconnecting the vehicle body and the door and a weatherstrip. The devicecomprises a container casing with a space for accommodating the wiringharness while being looped. Insertion and withdrawal openings for thewiring harness are opposed to each other in the casing of harness fixingportion projects from the outer surface of the insertion opening. Thewiring harness may be passed through the container casing by beinginserted through the insertion opening and withdrawn through thewithdrawal opening after being looped inside it. The container casing isfixed to either one of the door and the vehicle body and the wiringharness withdrawn from the container casing is extended to the other ofthe door and the vehicle body and secured thereto by a clamp, so thatthe wiring harness passed through the container casing can extend andcontract while varying the diameter of the loop as the door is openedand closed.

As is clear from the above, the wiring harness to be arranged betweenthe door and the body of the vehicle is arranged not in the sameposition as the hinge point, but in the position more inward toward thepassenger compartment. Accordingly, the wiring harness is required tohave both an extendible/contractible function and a twisting functionwhen the door is opened and closed. Since the container casing having afunction of extending and contracting the wiring harness is provided,the wiring harness can extend and contract as the door is opened andclosed. Further, since the wiring harness withdrawn from the containercasing can twist itself, it can smoothly follow the opening and closingmovements of the door.

Further, since the container casing has such a small configuration whichonly accommodates the wiring harness in a looped state, it can bemounted in a small space. Further, since the container casing is notvery much exposed to the passenger compartment, it does not degrade theappearance. Even if the container casing is mounted on the door, sinceit is small and lightweight, the mounting of the container casing doesnot require an increased force to open and close the door, i.e. does notmake the door heavier to open and close.

Further, since the wiring harness is arranged in a position more inwardthan the hinge point and the weatherstrip, it is not necessary toprovide a water preventing means for the wiring harness, obviating theneed to use grommets or like conventional water preventing devices.

Furthermore, since the wiring harness is arranged at the side of theinner surface of the inner plate of the door panel, a conventionallyrequired operation of arranging the wiring harness inside the door paneland withdrawing it through the through hole formed in the front endsurface of the door panel can be eliminated. As a result, an operationof arranging the wiring harness into the door panel can be considerablymade easier as compared with the prior art.

The container casing acts, so to speak, as a harness spool and iscomprised of a main body and a lid which are integrally formed of aresin. The main body and the lid are connected with each other via athin hinge. The insertion and withdrawal openings are formed by cuttingaway parts of the side walls of the main body opposite to each other.The wiring harness is accommodated in the container casing by beinginserted through the insertion opening, looped once and withdrawnthrough the withdrawal opening. Thereafter, the lid is closed, therebyengaging lock portion and locking portions provided in correspondingpositions of the main body and the lid. In the inner surface of the mainbody of the container casing, parts continuous with the insertion andwithdrawal openings are formed at different stages in a slanting manner,so that the wiring harness looped inside the container casing is notentangled by its portions coming into direct contact with each other.

If the container casing having the wiring harness passed therethrough isfixed to the door, the wiring harness looped inside the container casingextends by being pulled as the door is opened. Further, the wiringharness withdrawn from the container casing is free to twist.Accordingly, the wiring harness extends while twisting, following theopening movement of the door. On the other hand, as the door is closed,the extended portion of the wiring harness returns into the containercasing by being pushed by the door since the wiring harness is fixed atthe insertion opening of the container casing, with the result that thewiring harness is contained while being looped with an original largediameter.

Preferably, the wiring harness to be passed through the container casingis passed through a tube having a smooth outer surface and a function ofrestoring to an original looped state with a large diameter, so that thewiring harness withdrawn when the door is opened is pulled back into thecontainer casing due to the restoring force of the tube, returning tothe original looped state with the large diameter when the door isclosed.

Since the wiring harness needs to smoothly move inside the containercasing, it is passed through the tube having a smooth outer surface. Thetube has a self-restoring force of automatically restoring to itsoriginal looped shape with a large diameter inside the container casing.For example, a nylon tube having a specified thickness may be suitablyused. In other words, the wiring harness is passed through the tubewhich is so trained as to restore to its original looped state upon therelease of a pulling force. Preferably, the restoring speed to theoriginal shape is set faster than the closing speed of the door. Bysetting the contracting speed of the wiring harness faster, the jammingof the wiring harness between the door and the vehicle body while thedoor is closed can be prevented.

Preferably, a stopper projection is provided inside the container casingand the wiring harness is accommodated while being looped once about thestopper projection so that, while the wiring harness is withdrawn fromthe container casing, any further withdrawal of the wiring harness isstopped when the wiring harness winds around the stopper projection.

Even when the door is fully opened at a maximum angle and the wiringharness maximally extends, the wiring harness does not extend linearlyby winding around the stopper projection inside the container casing sothat it can be rewind into the container casing.

Preferably, the fixing position of container casing to the door is arecess formed in an inner surface of an inner plate of the door or atrim panel at the passenger compartment side, whereas the fixingposition of the container casing to the vehicle body is an end surfaceof the instrument panel facing the door or a pillar provided at a lowerside surface of the instrument panel. The mount position of thecontainer casing is not limited to the above. It may be mounted on anend surface of the door toward the vehicle body or an end surface of thevehicle body toward the door.

For example, if the container casing is mounted on the inner surface ofthe inner plate of the door, it is not necessary to arrange the wiringharness inside the door, which simplifies the arrangement operation.Further, if the container is mounted on the instrument panel, it can beeasily done as compared to a case where it is mounted on the vehiclebody.

Preferably, a harness fixing portion projects from the outer surface ofthe insertion opening of the container casing and the wiring harness isinserted while being fixed to the insertion opening by being secured tothe harness fixing portion by taping.

Further preferably, the container casing has a substantiallysemicircular shape and comprises a main body and a lid which isintegrally formed with the main body via a thin hinge. The main bodycomprises a substantially semicircular bottom portion, a flat uppersurface provided at the upper end of the bottom portion and an arcuateside wall. The lid has a substantially semicircular shape and isconnected with the leading end of the upper surface via the thin hinge.The insertion and withdrawal openings for the wiring harness are formedat the opposite ends of the side wall near the upper surface so as to beopposed to each other. If the container casing is configured as above,the wiring harness can be easily set in the container casing only byopening the lid.

Preferably, a partition plate is provided inside the container casing todefine a space communicating with the insertion opening and a spacecommunicating with the withdrawal opening lest portions of the wiringharness withdrawn through the withdrawal opening after being insertedthrough the insertion opening and looped once should directly intersect(claim 6). It is further preferable to slant the partition plate and tomake the insertion opening side and the withdrawal opening side atdifferent stages. With such a partition plate, the wiring harness doesnot get entangled by its portions intersecting each other.

Further, if the partition plate is arranged inside the container casinglest the portions of the wiring harness looped once should come intocontact with each other, the wiring harness can be smoothly wound andrewound without being entangled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon a reading of the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a guide frame used in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are a front view and a rear view of the guide frameof FIG. 2 with a harness passed therethrough, respectively.

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are perspective views of locking claws provided onthe guide frame, respectively.

FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) are schematic diagrams showing the action of theharness according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) show a restricting tube used in a second embodiment,wherein FIG. 6(A) is a perspective view of the restricting tube and FIG.6(B) is a front view of the restricting tube through which the harnessis passed.

FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B) are schematic diagrams showing the action of thesecond embodiment.

FIGS. 8(A) and ((B) are schematic diagrams showing the action of a thirdembodiment.

FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B) show a fourth embodiment, wherein FIG. 9(A) is arear view showing the guide frame on which a pulling force take-upmember is mounted and FIG. 9(B) is a perspective view of the pullingforce take-up member.

FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B) are perspective views of a guide frame accordingto a fifth embodiment when viewed from front and behind, respectively.

FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B) are schematic diagrams of sixth and seventhembodiments, respectively.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment.

FIGS. 13(A) and 13(B) are schematic plan views of the eighth embodimentwhen the door is closed and opened, respectively.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment.

FIGS. 15(A) and 15(B) are schematic plan views of the ninth embodimentwhen the door is closed and opened, respectively.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 17(A), 17(B) and 17(C) are a plan view, a front view and a sideview of a container casing used in the tenth embodiment, respectively.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the container casing in its closedstate.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the container casing in its openedstate.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a wiring harness to be passed throughthe container casing with a tube mounted thereon.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a state where the wiring harnessis passed through the container casing.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the wiring harness in its withdrawnstate when a door is opened.

FIGS. 23(A) and 23(B) are schematic plan views showing a positionalrelationship of the container casing and the wiring harness when thedoor is closed and opened, respectively.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an eleventh embodiment.

FIGS. 25(A) and 25(B) are schematic plan views showing a positionalrelationship of the container casing and the wiring harness according tothe eleventh embodiment when the door is closed and opened,respectively.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a section showing an essential portion of the twelfthembodiment.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the wiring harness inside the containercasing according to the twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a partially exploded perspective view of a door hinge portionaccording to prior art.

FIG. 30 is a plan view in section showing a positional relationship of ahinge and a weatherstrip.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of another prior art.

FIG. 32 is an enlarged section of an essential portion of the prior artof FIG. 31.

FIGS. 33(A) and 33(B) are schematic diagrams of the prior art of FIG. 31in its normal state.

FIGS. 34(A) and 34(B) are schematic diagrams of the prior art of FIG. 31in its abnormal state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, embodiments of the invention are described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein same or similar reference signsdenote or refer same or similar elements.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment in which a door harness D·W/H isarranged between a door D (as a second element) and a body C (as a firstelement) of a vehicle while extending from a front end surface la of adoor panel 1 to the body C. The door hinge H may be arranged such thatthe door D performs a pivotal movement with respect to the body C and/orsuch that the door D performs a linear or translatory movement withrespect to the body C (thus moving away from the body C). A front partof the door harness D·W/H to be arranged in a door hinge portion ispassed through a guide frame 10 configured as shown in FIGS. 2, 3(A) and3(B).

The guide frame 10 is made e.g. of a resin and has a substantiallytriangular shape. Specifically, narrow side walls 10b are provided atthree sides of a triangular front plate 10a, and the rear surfacethereof is an opening 10c. At a first apex of an upper side of the guideframe 10, a tubular portion 10d having an insertion opening 10e for awiring harness is integrally or unitarily formed to substantiallyproject. At a second apex of a lower side of the guide frame 10, atubular portion 10f having a withdrawal opening 10g for the wiringharness is integrally or unitarily formed to substantially project.Further, a tongue portion 10p where the wiring harness is taped projectsfrom the tubular portion 10d at the insertion side, and locking claws10h project from the side walls 10b. Each locking claw 10h may have ashape as shown in FIG. 4(A). However, if a locking portion formed in thedoor panel as described later is a locking hole, the locking claw 10hmay have a shape as shown in FIG. 4(B). Instead of providing the tubularportions, arcuate openings may be formed in the side walls to form theinsertion opening 10e and the withdrawal opening 10g. Alternatively,semicircular tubular portions may be provided.

The door harness D·W/H is mounted in the guide frame 10 as shown inFIGS. 3(A) and 3(B). Specifically, the door harness D·W/H is insertedinto a space defined by the side walls 10b and the front plate 10a; isfed along a side 10m toward the withdrawal opening 10g after being fedalong a side 10j toward a third apex 10k; and is consequently withdrawnthrough the withdrawal opening 10g. At and near the insertion opening10e, tape 11 is wound around the door harness D·W/H and the outersurface of the cylindrical portion 10d to position and fix the doorharness D·W/H.

The guide frame 10 partially containing the door harness D·W/H ismounted in a recess 1f formed by indenting the end surface la of thedoor panel 1 and the inner surface of an inner plate 1c as shown in FIG.1 such that the opening 10c at the rear surface faces the bottom surfaceof the recess 1f and vertically extends and that the withdrawal opening10g faces toward the body C. On the bottom surface of the recess 1f,there are provided locking claws (not shown) engageable with the lockingclaws 10h. The guide frame 10 is fixed to the recess 1f by engaging thelocking claws 10h with the mating locking claws or recess at one time.

In this state, a space slightly larger than the outer diameter of thedoor harness D·W/H is defined between the front plate 10a of the guideframe 10 and the bottom surface of the recess 1f. The door harness D·W/His accommodated in this space such that it is free to slide, but cannotoverlap.

The door harness D·W/H withdrawn through the withdrawal opening 10g ofthe guide frame 10 is extended to the body C, and a rubber mount member13 mounted at the leading end of the door harness D·W/H is fitted into amount hole 14. The rubber mount member 13 may be a conventionally usedgrommet.

In the door panel 1 of the door D, a weatherstrip 2 is mounted in aposition more toward a passenger compartment than a hinge H with thebody C, and the recess 1f in which the guide frame 10 is mounted islocated more toward the passenger compartment than the mount position ofthe weatherstrip 2. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide aspecial water preventing device for the door harness D·W/H on which theguide frame 10 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the door harness D·W/H having its front part passedthrough the guide frame 10 is arranged along the inner surface 1g of theinner plate of the door panel 1.

As described above, the guide frame 10 is fixed to the recess 1f formedin the position more toward the passenger compartment than the hingepoint of the hinge H and the weatherstrip 2, the door harness D·W/Hneeds to extend while twisting according to an opening angle of the doorD when the door D is opened. Likewise, when the door D is closed, thedoor harness D·W/H needs to contract while untwisting.

Since the door harness D·W/H is accommodated inside the guide frame 10in such a manner as to substantially have a margin length as shown inFIG. 5(A) i.e. such a length that the door harness D·W/H is arrangedalong sides 10j, 10m of the guide frame 10 in the contracted state (e.g.with the door closed), when the door D is opened, the door harness D·W/Hextends while being withdrawn through the withdrawal opening 10g.Specifically, the door harness D·W/H is withdrawn until it extends alonga side 10n. Further, a twisting necessary when the door D is opened istaken up by the twisting of the door harness D·W/H withdrawn through thewithdrawal opening 10g. Accordingly, the movement of the door harnessD·W/H can follow the opening movement of the door D.

On the other hand, when the door D is closed, the withdrawn door harnessD·W/H goes back into the inside of the guide frame 10 through thewithdrawal opening 10g, returning to the state of FIG. 5(A).

As described above, since the guide frame 10 has a function of extendingand contracting the door harness D·W/H and the door harness D·W/Hwithdrawn from the guide frame 10 can twist itself, the door harnessD·W/H is allowed to extend while twisting and to contract whileuntwisting e.g. as the door D is opened and closed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment, in which a cylindricalrestricting tube 15 having open opposite ends as shown in FIG. 6 isprovided and a door harness D·W/H is substantially fixedly or tightlypassed through the restricting tube 15 so that the restricting tube 15moves together with the door harness D·W/H. Stoppers 15a, 15b projecte.g. upward at the opposite ends of the restricting tube 15.

On the other hand, a tubular portion 10f' of the guide frame 10 having awithdrawal opening 10g has a substantially semicircular cross section.The restricting tube 15 is inserted into the guide frame 10 sidewaysthrough the withdrawal opening 10g as shown in FIG. 7(A), so that it ispositioned substantially continuously with the withdrawal opening 10g,i.e. slidably along the side 10m. In this mounted state, the stopper 15aat the front end is located at the inside of the guide frame 10 and thestopper 15b at the rear end is located at the outside of the withdrawalopening 10g. The stoppers 15a, 15b have a diameter substantially largerthan the semicylindrical portion 10f', so that the movement of therestricting tube 15 and the door harness D·W/H stops when the stopper15a or 15b comes into contact with the semicylindrical portion 10f'.

Accordingly, when the door harness D·W/H is withdrawn when the door D isopened, the stopper 15a stops in a position abutting against the tubularportion 10f', where the door D is fully opened. Further, when the doorharness D·W/H is pulled into the guide frame 10 when the door D isclosed, the stopper 15b stops in a position abutting against the tubularportion 10f', where the door D is completely closed.

As described above, by providing the restricting tube 15, the doorharness D·W/H is substantially linearly withdrawn and pulled backthrough the withdrawal opening 10g, making the extension and contractionof the door harness D·W/H smoother. Further, since the stoppers areprovided, the door harness D·W/H can extend and contract by a setlength. This prevents an occurrence of an undesirable event where thedoor harness D·W/H is withdrawn too much to slacken between the door Dand the body C. However a non-linear movement (extension/contraction) ofthe door harness D·W/H may be provided by suitably forming the shape ofthe restricting tube 15, e.g. a movement along an arcuate direction ofthe door harness D·W/H may be provided by providing a correspondinglyarcuate restricting tube 15.

FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) show a third embodiment, in which a return spring 16is provided between the front end of the restricting tube 15 and an apex10k of the guide frame 10 to bias the restricting tube 15 in a pull-backdirection. By providing the return spring 16, the pull-back(contracting) speed of the door harness D·W/H can be faster than theclosing speed of the door D, when the door D is closed.

FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B) show a fourth embodiment, in which a separatepulling force take-up member 20 e.g. of rubber is mounted on the tubularportion 10d at the insertion opening 10e of the guide frame 10. As shownin FIG. 9(B), the pulling force take-up member 20 is comprised of asubstantially cylindrical portion 20a to be fitted to the tubularportion 10d, a tongue portion 20b projecting from the cylindricalportion 20a, and a pair of legs 20c projecting from the cylindricalportion 20a. The tongue portion 20b is fixed to the door harness D·W/Hby tape 21 or the like holding or fixing means (e.g. a clamp, clip,soldering, etc.), and the legs 20c are fixed to the guide frame 10 bytape 22. By mounting the pulling force take-up member 20 at theinsertion opening 10e of the guide frame 10 as above, the door harnessD·W/H can be securely kept positioned and fixed to the insertion opening10e upon being pulled when the door D is opened.

FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B) show a fifth embodiment, in which a guide frame10' in the form of a thin box is provided. Specifically, although theguide frame 10 according to the first to fourth embodiments has an openrear surface, the rear surface of the guide frame 10' is closed by arear plate 10g so that the guide frame 10' has a boxlike shape. Thewidth of the box-shaped guide frame 10' is such that the wiring harnessis slidable, but cannot overlap.

FIG. 11(A) shows a sixth embodiment, in which the guide frame 10 isfixed to the body C. In this case, an instrument panel harness I D·W/His passed through the guide frame 10 and connected with the door harnessat the door side. FIG. 11(B) shows a seventh embodiment, in which theguide frames 10 are fixed to the body C and the door D, respectively. Inthe seventh embodiment, the harnesses withdrawn through the withdrawalopenings 10g of both guide frames 10 are made continuous. The harnessesare withdrawn from both guide frames 10 when the door D is opened whilereturning into both guide frames 10 when the door D is closed.

FIGS. 12, 13(A) and 13(B) show an eighth embodiment, in which a guideframe 10 similar to that of the first embodiment is fixedly accommodatedin a recess formed in the inner surface of the inner plate of the doorD, and a front part of the door harness D·W/H extending toward the bodyC through the guide frame 10 is extended to an end surface 31a of aninstrument panel 31 at the door side through a corrugated tube 30 bentin L-shape. A body fixing portion 30a is provided at the leading end ofthe corrugated tube 30, and is fitted into an opening 31b formed in theend surface 31a of the instrument panel 31 to be fixed therein. In otherwords, the door harness D·W/H is so arranged as to extend from the doorD to the end surface 31a of the instrument panel 31. In FIGS. 13(A) and13(B), identified by 32, 33 are a pillar and a fender panel,respectively.

In the case that the guide frame 10 is arranged between the instrumentpanel 31 and the inner surface of the door D, the end surface 31a of theinstrument panel 31 and the inner surface of a front part of the door Dare opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 13(A) when the door D isclosed, and the guide frame 10 is located in a space defined between theend surface 31a and the inner surface and accordingly cannot be seenfrom the passenger compartment. On the other hand, when the door D isopened, the door harness D·W/H extends while twisting as shown in FIG.13(B) when the door D is opened, following the opening movement of thedoor D.

FIGS. 14, 15(A) and 15(B) show a ninth embodiment, in which the doorharness D·W/H extending from the guide frame 10 mounted on the door D isarranged along the lower surface of the instrument panel 31 after beingbent by being passed through a bent corrugated tube 30', and is securedto the pillar 32 by a clip 35.

If the door harness D·W/H is arranged in the instrument panel as in theeighth and ninth embodiments, it is not necessary to mount the harnessin the end surface of the vehicle facing the door, i.e. to form a mounthole in the vehicle. Further, a mount operation in a narrow space canalso be eliminated, improving an operability of arranging the wiringharness. In other words, the wiring harness can be mounted in a largespace at the vehicle body side.

Although the guide frame is so mounted on the door and/or the body as tovertically extend, it may be so mounted as to horizontally extend.

FIGS. 16 to 23 show a tenth embodiment in which a door harness D·W/H isarranged in a door hinge portion between a door D and a body C of avehicle while extending from a front end surface 1a of a door panel 1 tothe body C. A front part of the door harness D·W/H arranged in the doorhinge portion is passed through a container casing 110 configured asshown in FIGS. 17 to 18. Thereafter, this front part of the door harnessD·W/H is extended to the body C, inserted into an opening 120b formed ina side surface of an instrument panel 120 toward the door D, and securedto the inner surface of the instrument panel by a clamp 121 as shown inFIG. 23.

The container casing 110 acts, so to speak, as a harness spool (i.e.there is in other words always a sufficient length or reserve of wiringharness D·W/H accommodated in the container casing 110, so as to matchto the movement of the wiring harness D·W/H caused e.g. by the openingof the door D) and is comprised of a main body 110a and a lid 110b whichare integrally or unitarily formed e.g. of a resin. The main body 110aand the lid 110b are connected with each other via a preferably thinhinge 110c. The container casing 110 has a thin box-shape having asubstantially semicircular cross section and, when the lid 110b isclosed, defines a hollow portion 110d in which the wiring harness D·W/Hhaving passed through a tube 11 shown in FIG. 20 is slidable orarrangeable.

Specifically, the main body 110a is comprised of a bottom portion 110jhaving a substantially semicircular cross section, a flat upper surface110p provided at the upper end of the bottom portion 110j and an arcuateside wall 110e. The lid 110b has a substantially semicircular crosssection and is connected with the leading end of the upper surface 110pvia a thin hinge 110c.

At the main body 110a of the container casing 110, the opposite ends ofa curved side wall 110e are cut away to form an insertion opening 110fand a withdrawal opening 110g for the wiring harness which are opposedto each other, and a harness fixing portion 110h projects from the edgeof the outer surface at the insertion opening 110f. Further, aprojection 110k is provided at a bottom portion 110j. A lock portionhaving a lock hole 110m is provided at the leading end of the lid 110b,and a lock claw 110n is provided in such a position of the side surfaceof the main body 110a to be engageable with the lock hole 110m when thelid 110b is closed.

Into the container casing 110 is inserted the door harness D·W/H havingpassed through the tube 111 shown in FIG. 20 and fixed by tape B throughthe insertion opening 110f. The door harness D·W/H is fixed to theharness fixing portion 110h by tape 112 near the insertion opening 110f.After being looped once in such a manner as to enclose the projection110k inside the container casing 110 as shown in FIG. 21, the doorharness D·W/H is withdrawn through the withdrawal opening 110g. At thistime, the door harness D·W/H is looped with a large diameter so as tosubstantially extend along the inner surface of the curved side wall110e, and is trained to be looped with this large diameter. After thedoor harness D·W/H is passed through the container casing 110 in such amanner as to have a margin length, the lid 110b is closed to engage thelock claw 110n with the lock hole 110m.

Since the tube 111 is made preferably of a nylon tube having a specifiedthickness and has a smooth outer surface, it can smoothly move in thecontainer casing 110. If the door harness D·W/H is trained to be loopedwith a large diameter i.e. a biasing force (e.g. due to resilience ofthe material) biases the door harness D·W/H toward a position with alarge diameter, when a pulling force is released with the door harnessD·W/H withdrawn as shown in FIG. 22, the door harness D·W/H restores toits original shape of FIG. 21. Further, by being covered with the tube111, the sliding movement of the door harness D·W/H inside the containercasing 110 does not cause abrasion of the coating thereof.

On the door panel 1 of the door D on which the container casing 110 ismounted, a weatherstrip 2 is mounted in a position more toward apassenger compartment than a hinge H with the body C. A notch 1g for theinsertion of the door harness D·W/H is formed in a corner portionbetween the end surface 1a and an inner plate 1h of the door panel 1which is located more toward the passenger compartment than the mountposition of the weatherstrip 2, and a recess 1k in communication withthe notch 1g is formed in the inner plate 1h. The container casing 110is inserted, preferably tightly fitted in the recess 1k.

The door harness D·W/H having its front part passed through thecontainer casing 110 as shown in FIG. 21 is arranged along the innersurface of the inner plate 1h of the door panel 1, and the containercasing 110 is fitted in the recess 1k. In this state, the inner plate 1his covered by a trim panel (not shown) to fix the container casing 110inside the door D.

The door harness D·W/H withdrawn from the container casing 110 throughthe withdrawal opening 110g is extended to the body C and, as describedabove, is secured to the inner surface of the instrument panel 120 bythe clamp 121 after being inserted through the opening 120b formed inthe side surface 120a of the instrument panel 120. The mount state shownin FIG. 21 is obtained when the door D is closed. At this time, thelength of the door harness D·W/H from the container casing 110 mountedon the door D to the position where it is secured to the body C is L1and the length thereof looped inside the container casing 110 is amargin length.

As described above, since the container casing 110 is accommodated inthe recess 1k formed in the position more toward the passengercompartment than the hinge point of the hinge H and the weatherstrip 2and the door harness D·W/H is extended to the instrument panel 120, thedoor harness D·W/H needs to extend while twisting according an openingangle of the door D when the door D is opened. Likewise, the doorharness D·W/H needs to contract while untwisting when the door D isclosed.

When the door D is opened with the door harness D·W/H as shown in FIGS.21 and 23(A), the door harness DW/H is withdrawn from the containercasing 110 through the withdrawal opening 110g while making the diameterof the loop smaller. When the door D is fully opened, the length of thedoor harness D·W/H from the container casing 110 to the clamp 121increases to L2 as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23(B). The door harness D·W/His withdrawn from the container casing 110 by a length difference(L2-L1). Inside the container casing 110, the door harness D·W/H windsaround the projection 110k, thereby hindering any further withdrawal ofthe door harness D·W/H from the container casing 110 lest the withdrawndoor harness D·W/H should slacken between the door D and the body C. Theprojection 110k may have a diameter big enough, to avoid damaging thewiring D.W/W, in particular by too strong bending.

As described above, when the door D is opened, the door harness D·W/Hextends, following the opening movement of the door D. The door harnessD·W/H withdrawn from the container casing 110 can twist itself and,accordingly, it can extend while twisting.

Since the tube 111 covering the door harness D·W/H has a self-restoringproperty of restoring to its original shape (e.g. due to the elasticforce acting to straighten the tube 111 toward its substantiallycylindrical shape), when the door D is moved in its closing direction,the door harness D·W/H returns into the container casing 110 at a speedfaster than the closing speed of the door D due to the restoring forceof the tube 111 while making the diameter of the loop larger.Consequently, the door harness D·W/H returns to the state of FIG. 21.Since the door harness D·W/H smoothly contracts, it can follow theclosing movement of the door D and the jamming of the door harness D·W/Hbetween the door D and the body C can be prevented.

FIGS. 24, 25(A) and 25(B) show an eleventh embodiment, in which thecontainer casing 110 is fixed to the inner surface of a side wall orpanel 120a of the instrument panel 120 of the body C toward the door D.Specifically, the container casing 110 is fixed inside the instrumentpanel 120, and the door harness D·W/H extending from the door D ispassed through the container casing 110. On the other hand, in the doorD, the door harness D·W/H is fixed to the inner surface of the innerplate 1h by a clamp 121'. Alternatively, an instrument panel harness (IPharness) may be passed through the container casing 110; extended towardthe door D and connected with the door harness D·W/H after being securedto the door D by a clamp.

The action of the eleventh embodiment is similar to that of the tenthembodiment. When the door D closed as shown in FIG. 25(A) is opened, thedoor harness D·W/H extends while twisting as shown in FIG. 25(B),following the opening movement of the door D. On the other hand, whenthe door D opened as shown in FIG. 25(B) is closed, the door harnessD·W/H returns to the state of FIG. 25(A) by the self-restoring propertyof the tube covering the door harness D·W/H and, at the same time, ispressed by the door D being closed and contractibly returns into thecontainer casing 110 while making the diameter of the loop larger.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. Forexample, the insertion and withdrawal openings of the container casingmay be formed at different stages and the bottom surface of thecontainer casing may be slanted or bevelled. With this arrangement,portions of the harness inside the container casing do not directlycross each other, i.e. do not touch each other and, accordingly, theharness can be looped without being entangled.

FIGS. 26 to 28 show a twelfth embodiment, in which a partition plate 130having preferably a shape corresponding to the shape of the containercasing 110, preferably a substantially semicircular shape, is arrangedinside the container casing 110 to partition a preferably substantiallysemicircular space between the bottom portion 10j and the lid 10b intotwo spaces 131, 133. A mount hole 130a is formed in the partition plate130, and the leading end of the projection is narrowed to form a mountstep 110k-1 on which the partition plate 130 can rest. The partitionplate 130 is slantingly mounted by inserting the mount step 110k-1through the mount hole 130a. In this mounted state, there are definedthe space 131 communicating with the insertion hole 110f, the space 132communicating with the withdrawal opening 110g and a clearance 133between the partition plate 130 and the side wall 110e.

Accordingly, after the door harness D·W/H inserted through the insertionopening 110f is curved around the projection 110k at the side of thespace 131, it is pulled to the space 132 through the clearance 133 andwithdrawn through the withdrawal opening 110g after being curved aroundthe projection 110k-1 at the side of the space 132.

With the above construction, portions of the door harness D·W/H loopedonce do not come into direct contact at the intersection, particularlypreventing the entanglement thereof when the diameter of the loopbecomes smaller while the door is opened. Accordingly, the door harnessD·W/H can be smoothly rewound.

The projection 110k preferably is provided in a decentral position withrespect to the container casing 110 and/or with respect to the partitionplate 130, such that the distance from the projection 110k to an edgeportion of the partition plate 130 varies depending upon thecircumferential or azimuthal direction or position, e.g. the distance d1between the projection 110k and the edge of the partition plate 130 onthe withdrawal opening 110g side is different from a distance d2 betweenthe projection 110k and the edge of the partition plate 130 on theinsertion opening 110f side is different (compare FIG. 28).

Preferably the edges of the partition plate 130 being in contact withthe wiring harness D·W/H are rounded off for avoiding a damage to thewiring harness D·W/H, when the wiring harness D·W/H slides along theedge of the partition plate 130 due to the withdrawal thereof from thefeeding or withdrawal opening 110f (e.g. by the opening of the door D).

What is claimed is:
 1. A wiring harness arranging device for arranging awiring harness between a first element and a second element that aremovable with respect to each other about a hinge, said device comprisingat least one wiring harness holder having an insertion opening and adispensing opening in spaced-apart positions, the wiring harness beinginserted through the insertion opening and dispensed through thedispensing opening, the wiring harness holder being fixed to a selectedone of the first and second elements, such that a leading end of thewiring harness dispensed from the wiring harness holder through thedispensing opening is extended to the other of the first and secondelements so that the wiring harness comes from and returns to the wiringharness holder according to the movement of the first and secondelements with respect to each other the wiring harness holder comprisinga guide frame having a substantially triangular shape with first, secondand third apexes, the insertion opening being provided at the first apexthereof, the dispensing opening being provided at the second apexthereof, and the wiring harness being so accommodated in the guide frameas to extend in a non-linear manner toward the third apex for at leastcertain relative positions of said first and second elements.
 2. Awiring harness arranging device according to claim 1, wherein the wiringharness is fixed to the holder at the insertion opening.
 3. A wiringharness arranging device according to claim 1, wherein the wiringharness is inserted into the wiring harness holder through the insertionopening and dispensed or withdrawn through the dispensing opening afterbeing arranged in a non-linear manner.
 4. A wiring harness arrangingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the wiring harness holder isfixedly and vertically accommodated in a recess formed in an end surfaceof the second element.
 5. A wiring harness arranging device according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one wiring harness holder has an open rearsurface, and is formed with a locking claw detachably lockable with anengaging groove in the selected one of the first element and the secondelement, the wiring harness being slidably accommodated in a spacedefined between an open front surface of the wiring harness holder andthe selected one of the first and second elements.
 6. A wiring harnessarranging device according to claim 5, wherein a tubular portionprojects at least the insertion opening of the wiring harness holderand/or wherein, in particular the tubular portion of the insertionopening and the wiring harness are fixed by fixing means.
 7. A wiringharness arranging device for arranging a wiring harness between a firstelement and a second element that are movable with respect to each otherabout a hinge, said device comprising at least one wiring harness holderhaving an insertion opening and a dispensing opening in spaced-apartpositions, the wiring harness being inserted through the insertionopening and dispensed through the dispensing opening, the wiring harnessholder being fixed to a selected one of the first and second elements,such that a leading end of the wiring harness dispensed from the wiringharness holder through the dispensing opening is extended to the otherof the first and second elements so that the wiring harness comes fromand returns to the wiring harness holder according to the movement ofthe first and second elements with respect to each other, the wiringharness arranging device further comprising a restricting tube havingopposite ends, the wiring harness being passed through the restrictingtube, one said end of the tube being at least partially placed insidethe wiring harness holder in a position substantially continuous withthe dispensing opening so as to be slidable in and out of the dispensingopening.
 8. A wiring harness device according to claim 7, wherein:thewiring harness holder comprises a guide frame having a substantiallytriangular shape with first, second and third apexes, the insertionopening being provided at the first apex thereof, the dispensing openingbeing provided at the second apex thereof, and the wiring harness beingso accommodated in the guide frame as to extend in a non-linear mannertoward the third apex.
 9. A wiring harness arranging device according toclaim 7, wherein the wiring harness is fixed to the restricting tube sothat the restricting tube moves together with the wiring harness, andwherein a biasing means is provided between the restricting tube and thewiring harness dispensing means to bias the wiring harness into thewiring harness holder.